GRADE: ESAM: 3-5

CONTENT STANDARD: Life Science

CONTENT TOPIC: Plants

CONCEPT: Living things are composed of one or more cells.

CONTENT OBJECTIVE: F1.00 To recognize the basic parts of a plant

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: The learner will:

1.01 observe a plant cell and label the basic parts.

I. Observe and label plant cells

TN COMPONENT OF SCIENCE: Process Of Science

TN GOAL:

To enable students to demonstrate the process of science by posing questions and investigating phenomena through language, methods and instruments of science

1.1 OBSERVING - The senses are used to develop an awareness of an event or object and the properties thereof.

1.1b The human senses and technological instruments are used to gather information from the environment.

BENCHMARK Information is gathered by using human senses and various instruments such as magnifying lenses, microscopes, telescopes, thermometers, scales, and balances.

TIME REQUIRED:

30 minutes

Onion, microscope, dropper, water

(Show a book with small print.) What can I use to help make this easier to see? Tell your neighbor. (magnifying glass). That's right! Remember when we used the magnifying glass to see the textures in our rock samples? A magnifying glass will make objects appear larger. What would you use to magnify something that's even smaller? (a microscope). Today you will use a microscope that will magnify an onion skin 100x (or check the magnification degree of your microscope).

Plant cells have four major parts. The MEMBRANE covers the cell and lets food and oxygen pass into the cell. It lets waste matter pass out. It protects the cell. Some cells have CELL WALLS. The middle of the cell is called the NUCLEUS. (If this is an introductory lesson involving the microscope, the teacher should explain the parts of the microscope and model the procedures for correct usage.)

At your science centers, you will be able to look at several plants under the microscope. (Divide the class into four or more groups.) Here are your directions:

1. Take a slice of an onion, peel a tiny piece of the skin. Lay this skin flat on a microscope slide. Place a drop of water on the center of the skin. Then put a cover glass over it. Can you see box-like shapes? (response) Are they close together? (response) Each little box is a living cell. Each cell has a top and a bottom.

2. Take a green plant. Look for tiny boxes close together. Are they the same shape? (response) Do you see tiny green dots? (response) The green is chlorophyll. If you look closely, you may be able to find the nucleus. It is hard to find

You have looked at plant cells. What did you notice? (plant cells are box-like in shape. Plant cells contain chlorophyll.)

Today we have observed plant cells. Make drawings of the cells viewed. Label the cell wall and nucleus.

Have students compare other plant specimens under the microscope.

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